Dualing Petitions Launched Over Barnstable High Principal's Leave

BARNSTABLE, MA — Residents have created dueling petitions about suspended Barnstable High School Principal Patrick Clark — one gathering signatures demanding the school committee reinstate Clark immediately, and the other calling for him to shed light on why he was placed on administrative leave in the first place.

Sally Vetorino organized the petition urging the Barnstable School Committee to "convene an extraordinary meeting as soon as possible to reinstate Mr. Patrick Clark to his position of principal." As of Friday afternoon, 966 people have signed the petition.

Titled "Vote of No Confidence for Meg Mayo-Brown Superintendent of Barnstable Public Schools," Vetorino wrote that Mayo-Brown violated the competence and efficiency required by her contract by distracting student focus and failing to communicate with students and parents in a timely manner.

On Sept. 25, Clark was placed on paid administrative leave. Parents were not notified of the suspension until Sept. 28 in an email sent out by Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown, the same day students returned for their first day of in-person classes.

"We understand that matters of employment with the district for certain positions is the domain of the office of the superintendent, but as parents, we believe the school committee is ultimately accountable for any diminished confidence that parents have in the office of the superintendent," the petition read.

Mayo-Brown never gave a reason for the suspension, and at an Oct. 7 school committee meeting, she said she legally cannot say without Clark's permission.

"Transparency and input have guided our work in bringing children back to school this fall," Mayo-Brown said. "I understand and respect the strong sense of loyalty the community feels for Principal Clark. I would prefer to be transparent but can only do so if Mr. Clark signs a public release."

This transparency is what another group of residents has called for in a separate petition. Peter Bertling, of Centerville, organized a petition requesting that Clark sign a waiver allowing Mayo-Brown to publicly discuss the reasons for his suspension.

As of Friday afternoon, the petition had 52 of its requested 100 signatures.

"Obviously, Patrick's friends and family support him and claim he is a scapegoat and being mistreated by Dr. Mayo-Brown, but the actual facts remain to be heard, the petition read. "With so much demand for his reinstatement, please allow Meg Mayo-Brown to discuss and release information pertaining to her decision."

More on Principal Clark's Suspension

• Dozens Call For Reinstatement of Barnstable High School Principal